SIDNEY — The Maine Cheese Guild has announced the appointment of Irene Burgess as its new executive director.

The position was previously held by Ron Dyer.

Burgess, who has a career in nonprofit membership organizations, education and fundraising, worked as a youth on a family dairy farm in Newport, according to a news release.

The Maine Cheese Festival will be held Sunday, Sept. 8, at Manson Park in Pittsfield. The Open Creamery tour, an opportunity to visit farms where cheese is produced, will be held on Sunday, Oct. 13.